Breakfast of Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut comes into the restaurant where I work every Sunday morning. Okay, not the real Kurt Vonnegut, but his doppelganger. Then again, would we really put it past Mr. Vonnegut's abilities to appear in a bar and grill in the Twin Cities postmortem?

He eats pancakes. So it goes.

Mobile phones and the downfall of common sense

Okay, anyone who knows me also knows that I'm not all that attached to my cell phone. Having a mobile phone, to me, does not mean that anyone and everyone will be able to get a hold of me at any time. It means that I am a bit more connected than if I still had a land line. So I've always found the reliance upon one's mobile phone a bit alarming and strange. But it has apparently reached epic levels. I've noticed that when a person walks into a restaurant to meet friends he/she no longer even looks for his/her friend(s), but rather immediately calls them to find out exactly where they are in the restaurant. Really? Has it become too much trouble to take a quick walk around the place? Use your damn head!!! And eyes for that matter. Cell phone 1, common sense 0.

Is it a complete lack of independence? Like, the majority of people could never imagine wondering around a public place alone for more than a nanosecond and without a specified destination. Or is it an over-reliance on mobile communication?

Either way it is ridiculous.

Also, when I'm out with people I like to be connected to them, the ones who are sitting right in front of me. I feel no compulsion to answer the texts and calls of those outside the situation. I will get back to you when I am not otherwise engaged. It seems the masses have lost the art of social grace and simple politeness. Certain situations are exempt of course, like when the mobile communicating is taking part with someone who is supposed to be physically present, for example.